Pre-Match Build Up - Man Utd - 03 March 2007

[Joe Le Toff]

Thats very true unfortunately, the league is over for us save securing CL for next year, our only shot at silverware is the CL this year and the Barca game is crucial.
That said, whoever Rafa starts against the Mancs will be up for it and give the feckers a game thats for sure.
I fancy us to do them 2-1, and although id be gutted if we lost, frankly it wouldnt be the end of the world if we beat Barca.
I think we'll see quite a few rested.
Can you imagine the inbred ****s delight if Gerrard starts and gets done by horror of horrors Neville, and misses the Barca game? I couldnt bear it.

[Svennis]

Hopefully Riise doesn't play. Ronaldo would probably tear him a new asshole. I'd play Arbeloa at leftback, if Aurelio isn't fit.

Reina, Finnan, Carra, Agger, Aurelio/Arbeloa, Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso, Gonzalez, Kuyt, Bellamy
Subs: Dudke, Hyypiä, Pennant, Sissoko, Crouch

[Marky]

It's a strange one this, even if we do win i don't think we can gloat too much as the Mancs will still be in pole position to win the title,
in saying that it's a MUST WIn game for us, we put on a dire performance against them at OT earlier in the season and we've had to suffer the agony of seeing them play some great footy which has lead to them being top at this present time.

[Marky]

Hopefully Riise doesn't play. Ronaldo would probably tear him a new asshole. I'd play Arbeloa at leftback, if Aurelio isn't fit.

Reina, Finnan, Carra, Agger, Aurelio/Arbeloa, Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso, Gonzalez, Kuyt, Bellamy
Subs: Dudke, Hyypiä, Pennant, Sissoko, Crouch

I hate that phrase and no i don't think he would to be honest, JAR has come up against Ronaldo many times and has did a pretty decent job on most occasions.

[Morph]

I think we'll win on Saturday.

you damn well take that back!

[jonesie]

I can see us doing them 2-0. We haven't let in a goal at home for ages and, talking to a Manc mate I went to college with, he reckons they're not playing well at all at the moment, and haven't since they beat Spurs 4-0 a few weeks ago.

Like the Chelsea game, an early goal will be vital, if we get that we can control the game and pick them off second half.

BTW is Crouch fit enough to play?

[Marky]

Who gives a flying fook what AA's prediction is?

[Maestro]

Who gives a flying fook what AA's prediction is?

......said the Arsenal fan

[lfc4ever]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6392443.stm

Anfield Saturday, 3 March Kick-off: 1245 GMT

Team news to follow later.

BIG-MATCH FACTS

LIVERPOOL against Manchester United is a top three Saturday lunchtime showdown between two of the elite of British football. The Reds are defending a 30-match unbeaten Premiership sequence at Anfield, and a top flight club record run of nine successive clean sheets at home. They are keen to close the gap on second placed Chelsea to four points, albeit temporarily, while their bitter rivals from the opposite end of the East Lancs Road need a fifth successive Premiership win to increase their advantage over the Blues to 12 points, for four hours at least, as they seek a ninth title in 15 seasons.

The Merseysiders clinically dismantled Sheffield United last Saturday to record their third 4-0 victory of the season. In United, they face the only side above them in the top flight's "form" table, and the only other club whose players have not been shown any red cards from Premiership competition this season. With Chelsea, the top three clubs, boast the joint tightest defences in the highest League.

The Reds are looking to record a 50th League victory over Manchester United, but they've only picked up one point from the last available 12 against them at home, and have not scored in the last four home and away. Peter Crouch's header put the eventual FA Cup winners into the quarter-finals with a 1-0 victory in the last meeting with Manchester United at Anfield just over a year ago. However in the Premiership, the Merseysiders have not experienced victory over the Red Devils on home turf since Michael Owen scored a brace and John Arne Riise also netted in a 3-1 victory on 4 November 2001.

MANCHESTER UNITED caught Reading cold and went three up in the first six minutes of Tuesday's FA Cup fifth round replay, but still had to survive a late scare to book their place in the quarter-finals. On Wednesday they're back in Champions League action, home to Lille and leading 1-0 from the first leg, with a place in the last eight for the winners. That will be 24 hours after Liverpool have entertained Barcelona in the same competition. The Champions League is Liverpool's best chance of silverware this season. They have a 2-1 first leg advantage, and the prospect of that fixture will give United the edge in this Premiership duel, or so the Old Trafford faithful will be hoping.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side have accrued nine more points than at this identical stage last season, two more than ever before after the first 28 games of a Premier League campaign. But they are still three points behind the record breaking pace, set by Chelsea 12 months ago.

Paul Scholes made sure his 500th game for United was a memorable one, when he scored the opening goal in the reverse fixture in October, to help his team return to the top of the table. The Red Devils are now seeking a fourth Premiership 'double' over Liverpool, and first in three seasons.

REFEREE

Graham Poll (Tring, Hertfordshire)

SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM

LIVERPOOL
Club stats
Fixtures
3rd 53 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 3rd
Lowest could fall: 3rd

1. Conceded just 19 Premiership goals, as have Manchester United, but scored 21 fewer goals and accrued 16 fewer points.

2. This match pits the fourth strongest attack is the highest League (44 goals) with the sharpest (65).

3. Won five of the last seven in all competitions, including the last two. Lost one of the seven.

4. Failed to score in one of the last 11 League and Cup outings.

5. Lost one of the last eight Premiership matches, conceding just three goals in the eight games.

6. Kept an unequalled 16 Premiership clean sheets so far this season, and opened the scoring in 16 League games.

7. Second in the Premiership's "Last Six Current Form" table with 13 points. Manchester United have 15.

8. Won 25 and drawn five home Premiership games since the 1-4 loss to Chelsea on 2 October 2005.

9. Not conceded a single goal in 844 minutes (14 hours four minutes) of top tier football at Anfield, since Gabriel Agbonlahor netted Aston Villa's consolation in the 3-1 home win on 28 October.

10. The next three Premiership matches take in a visit to Aston Villa, a home clash with Arsenal and a trip to Reading.

MANCHESTER UNITED
Club stats
Fixtures
1st 69 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 1st
Lowest could fall: 1st

1. This is the first of the 10-game Premiership run-in, that includes home fixtures against Bolton, Blackburn, Sheffield United, Middlesbrough and West Ham, and away games against Portsmouth, Chelsea, Everton and Manchester City.

2. Won seven and drawn one of the last eight in all competitions, and lost only one of 15.

3. Conceded just one goal in winning the last four Premiership matches.

4. Opened the scoring in 21 Premiership matches, and failed to score in two - the best records in the highest League, matched only by Chelsea.

5. Failed to find the back of the net in only one of the last 23 League engagements.

6. One of two clubs in the top table to hold 100% records when keeping clean sheets. United have won 12 of 12 - Arsenal nine of nine.

7. Boasting the strongest attack in the highest echelon and the biggest aggregate. Premiership games involving United have generated 84 goals (65 for, 19 against), at an average of exactly three per game.

8. One draw short of 200 in top flight football under Sir Alex Ferguson.

9. Won the last four away games, two of which were in the Premiership. The 1-0 defeat at West Ham on 17 December, is the club's only blank on their Premiership travels this term.

10. There's a break of a fortnight from Premiership football after this, in which time Wednesday's Champions League fixture with Lille and the FA Cup visit to Middlesbrough next Saturday, will be played.

KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES

LIVERPOOL
Squad profiles

Peter CROUCH is Liverpool's top scorer with 13 goals.

Dirk KUYT is the club's leading marksman in the Premiership with nine.

Steven GERRARD is the only remaining player to have figured in at least a part of each of Liverpool's Premiership games this season.

If he plays, Steve FINNAN will be making his 400th career League appearance (Birmingham, Notts Co, Fulham and Liverpool).

MANCHESTER UNITED
Squad profiles

Cristiano RONALDO is United's top scorer with 16 goals. They're all in the Premiership, which leaves the Portugal World Cup star one behind Chelsea's Didier Drogba at the head of the race for the Barclays Golden Boot.

Ryan GIGGS is a double short of 100 League goals.

If he plays, GIGGS will be making his 700th appearance for Manchester United.

Wayne ROONEY is a brace shy of 50 goals for the Red Devils.

If on the field from the outset, Rio FERDINAND will be making his 200th start in a United shirt.

FERDINAND has scored two goals in his last two Premiership appearances against Liverpool, and only four goals in his entire career with United.

If selected in the 11, Paul SCHOLES will be making his 300th Premiership start for the Red Devils.

LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME

Liverpool 0-0 Manchester United
18 September 2005 - Ref: Rob Styles

THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE

Manchester United 2-0 Liverpool
22 October 2006 - Ref: Graham Poll
Man United scorers: Scholes 39, Ferdinand 66

HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS

Home and away
League: Liverpool 49 wins, Man Utd 55, Draws 43
Prem: Liverpool 7 wins, Man Utd 15, Draws 7

at Liverpool only
League: Liverpool 35 wins, Man Utd 20, Draws 18
Prem: Liverpool 4 wins, Man Utd 7, Draws 3

[REDSCOUSER]

......said the Arsenal fan

[cobain]

I think we'll win on Saturday.

I'd defo start with three strikers!

[REDSCOUSER]

The mancs are due a beating in the league from us. I can see another solid performance by RAFAS REDS. In midfield is where the battle will be and because of that we will win it.

[Craig_H]

Songs to sing on Saturday

Also from YNWA:

They've won it two times
They've won it two times
Nottingham Forest
They've won it two times

Your hero is Scouse
Your hero is Scouse
You two faced b******s
Your hero is Scouse

...and to drown out the inevitable 'murderers' chant, let's hit them with:

Were you singing,
Were you singing,
Were you singing that in Lille?
Were you singing that in Lille?

[rnm]

more please

[Red Chilli]

more please